To the editor:

I understand that the presidential candidates are spending all their money and putting all their efforts into the so-called swing states — those that are not red or blue. So the campaigns have nothing to do with those of us who live in solid red or blue states, which further negates the value of the voters who are in the minority of these states, e.g., a Democrat in a red/Republican state.

Under the indirect, Electoral College method of electing the president, the votes of us “color-impaired” voters are irrelevant, meaningless. So, the majority of American voters are irrelevant to the campaign and the election of the president. But, all American voters would become essential to both the campaign and the election if we changed to a direct, popular vote to elect the president. Is this not what democracy is meant to be?